Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 11

15/03/200513 December 2006

Error! Bookmark not defined.`Strong and Prosperous Communities' - Local Government White Paper

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: Chief Officer John Bonney Tel: 02380 626830 Email: [email protected]

1

Summary

1.1

The White Paper on the future of local government, `Strong and Prosperous Communities' was published in October 2006. Attached to this report is a short synopsis of the document for Members' information.

2

RecommendationError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

That the report and appended synopsis (appendix A) is noted.

3

The White Paper

3.1

The White Paper `Strong and Prosperous Communities' lays out the government's intentions for the future of local government and the relationship between Whitehall and local public sector service providers.

3.2

The report in some ways only describes part of the vision as Sir Michael Lyons' report on the future of local government funding has yet to be published. This will inevitably have an impact on the ultimate direction taken by local authorities.

3.3

Disappointingly, there is scant reference to the Fire and Rescue Service beyond an example where the Service is playing its part in promoting community engagement and cohesion. The paper addresses none of the Fire Service's current key political ambiguities; such as the need for a more consistent governance model, granting to the Service powers of well-being or, indeed, whether it is likely to remain a locally provided service. Instead, we are left to draw conclusions from the White Paper as to how the major themes of greater community involvement, reduced performance management arrangements and the possible of local authority combinations might impact on the Service.

4

Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives

4.1

Not applicable.

5

Risk Analysis

5.1

It is unclear at this stage how the intentions of the White Paper will impact on the future financing of the Service, or indeed its governance arrangements. However, it will be important for the Authority to monitor its implementation. This will be included in the Service's SWOT and STEEPLE analysis of its operating environment.

6

Resource Implications

6.1

Human Resources

Not applicable.

6.2

Physical Resources

Not applicable.

6.3

Information and Communications Technology Resources

Not applicable.

6.4

Financial Implications

Not applicable.

7

Equality Impact Assessment

7.1

The proposals within this report are considered compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

8

Consultation

8.1

Not applicable.

Background Information (Section 100D of Local Government Act 1972)

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report:

Error! Bookmark not defined.`Strong and Prosperous Communities' - Local Government White Paper

http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1137789

Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.

1

The Local Government White Paper Strong and Prosperous Communities issued in October 2006 responds to concerns and pressures for devolution and de-regulation to some extent. It seeks to strengthen local leadership, cut back on the number of national targets, streamline inspection and broaden the scope of Local Area Agreements.

This synopsis does not seek to summarise the whole White Paper but to draw out some of the key issues (identified by italics).

2

Governance - Political Management - Councils will be required to adopt one of three political management arrangements (directly elected Mayor, directly elected Cabinet or indirectly elected Leader). Possible implications in terms of make-up and relationship with CFAs.

Parishes - power of wellbeing extended to `quality' parishes. Still denied to FRAs in the White Paper.

3

Overview and scrutiny - Scrutiny Committees will have a widened and strengthened role to examine the action of local public service providers and to require them to cooperate, to appear before the committee, provide information and have regard to recommendations. More overt linkage to district councils than for FRAs.

Unitary Status - invitation to submit proposals to create unitary councils - potential affects only a small number of FRAs.

4

Responsive services and empowered communities - the community call for action allows citizens to seek action through local councillors on persistent or serious problems with local services. The role of petitions will be enhanced. This could have implications for the opening or closure of fire stations under IRMPs, together with response standards generally.

5

Strong cities - strategic regions - there is the potential to further develop Local Area Agreements to Multi Area Agreements in larger cities and regions. However, no area is precluded from taking this approach. In terms of implications for the service - see below in relation to LAAs.

6

Local government as strategic leader and place shaper - FRAs will be a statutory consultee and involved in LAAs. A sustainable community strategy will be required to contain a single vision for the area, combining both central and local government priorities. This has to read across to other local plans such as district council local development frameworks, regional economic strategy and local policing plan. More funding streams will go direct into the LAA. LAAs will contain a maximum of 35 national targets. Potential to increase influence and impact to LAAs. Potential expectation from partners to make sustained revenue contributions.

7

A new performance framework - this will be risk based and will replace CPA, looking at what is achieved with partners for the area as a whole. No overall rating will be given. Performance will be assessed against a core set of 200 national indicators (down from around 1,200) and will be published alongside an extended Use of Resources judgement and scored Direction of Travel assessment. Potential to influence broader community safety agenda.

Citizens will be more involved in driving improvement, monitoring performance and inspection and user views will need to be incorporated into inspection activities. Again, IRMP implications and overall budget/precept implications.

Best value being reformed. Removing requirements for BV authorities to prepare annual plans and conduct reviews. Councils (generally) will be encouraged to strengthen their approach to competition by testing competitiveness of services. Increasing momentum for joint/shared services.

8

Efficiency - transform local services. Ambitious efficiency gains to be achieved over the next period as part of CSR 07. Separate service submission toTreasury now in final stages.

Collaboration across the public sector - encouraging authorities to join up across boundaries. Shared Service agenda for FRAs.

9

Other areas - extremism. This to become a part of core business for authorities. Opportunity to promote positive public image.

General

10

The White Paper and Bills which will flow from it can be seen as a continued evolution of local government reform. Still to come are the outcomes of the Lyons enquiry to which we have made a previous submission and CSR 07. One of the key central themes relates to expectations about savings and this has come very strongly from the preparation for our CSR 07 work. The summary position is `continued improvement with less resources'.

11

Financial implications

Likely to be significant in terms of the way resources are used to deliver services.